NDT News

NDT News

Have you decided to pursue an AWS CWI certification? If this is the case, you have probably spent countless hours doing your research to make sure you meet the requirements.

But of course, what you really want to know is how much money you can make as a CWI. If you want to know, keep reading this article.

What is a CWI?

Before you learn how much a CWI makes, you need to learn a little bit more about the nature of the work.

A CWI stands for a certified welding inspector. CWIs are essential to a variety of construction fields.

CWIs have a number of important responsibilities each day to ensure the quality of a construction project.

When working at a job site, CWIs have to inspect for a variety of things such as compliance with city and state laws, federal safety regulations, and company-specific guidelines.

When a construction project is in full swing, an inspector has to monitor the welding operations to ensure compliance to welding procedures.

If you want to become a CWI, you need 5 years industry experience if you have a high school diploma, if you do not have a high school diploma don’t fret, you can still become a CWI but will need more industry experience. It also helps to have a background in engineering, CWI prep courses, or a similar field.

As Demand Outpaces Supply, the Oil and Gas Industry Looks for Creative Solutions

Ask anyone in the pipeline industry, and they’ll tell you there’s a serious shortage of non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technicians in North America. A combination of stronger regulations for legacy lines and new construction, plus a lengthy certification process, has created a situation where demand for technicians outpaces supply.

As the name suggests, NDE provides pipeline owner/operators with a way to validate inline inspection (ILI) findings and evaluate anomalies without the risk of further damage. NDE technicians use magnetic particles, radiography, and high-frequency sound waves to locate anomalies in pipelines. In addition, they can confirm the severity of those anomalies – and that helps operators prioritize repairs and reduce the need for costly multiple excavations.

But the success of NDE largely depends on the technician’s ability to analyze results. And, the specific tools and technologies used to conduct NDE can vary from company to company. To ensure accuracy, it’s critical that technicians know how to use the equipment and how to interpret the results of testing.

And the only way to guarantee that is through experience – lots of it. All technicians must complete a combination of classroom and field training to earn NDE certification. Classroom hours are more theory- Addressing The NDE Technician Shortage As Demand Outpaces Supply, the Oil and Gas Industry Looks for Creative Solutions F U T U R E T H I N K I N G based, and students can apply what they’ve learned to a broad range of industries, from structural steel to pipelines. After completing the requisite classroom hours, students complete 2,000 + hours of supervised, industry-specific fieldwork, unique to their area of NDE focus.

So far, there’s no single, permanent way to create a pool of trained, qualified NDE technicians, but there have been some promising developments. Many colleges and technical schools currently offer two-year programs focused on NDE training. In addition, the industry has started to reach out to college graduates with new certification programs that reduce the training hours required for trainees with four-year degrees in engineering or science.

Pipeline service companies are also finding creative ways to build a larger pool of available NDE technicians: Some are pulling technicians from other departments or even other industries. Because there is a common knowledge base for non-destructive technology (NDT), a technician with years of experience in aerospace, for example, can transition to pipelines.

Magnetic particle test pieces will help you maintain your mag particle process by verifying magnetic particle performance. Use to check for mag particle deterioration, to compare different magnetic powders, to verify sensitivity or visibility or to assure field direction and strength. In this blog we look at the primary use of Quantitative Quality Indicators (QQIs) and Magnetic Flux Indicators which are to verify field direction and strength.

Field strength and orientation are key factors in a successful magnetic particle examination. Sufficient magnetic field must be present to form indications on the surface being examined. And because magnetism is directional in nature, only discontinuities that cross the lines of flux will produce leakage fields to form those indications.

Unfortunately, the magnetic field within the part cannot be measured directly. So many practitioners use artificial flaws or test pieces to confirm magnetic field strength. At the same time, artificial flaws can confirm direction since only those orthogonal to the lines of flux will form indications. The most common artificial flaws in use are QQIs and Flux Indicator Strips. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages to consider when choosing the right tool for your inspection.

Careers in nondestructive testing are on the rise in today’s economy. These fields are constantly advancing, and there is an ever-growing need for technicians, quality assurance specialists and inspectors. Nondestructive testing (NDT) of materials and structures, is one of the most common forms of quality control. In fact, more and more people are turning to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers, including nondestructive testing to make their living.

The good news is many of these careers, such as nondestructive testing specialists, have customized curriculums that allow people to get the training and experience they need with just a two-year degree. It is not uncommon for NDT technicians to earn a minimum of $40,000 right after graduation. Paying around $10,000 for these degrees, graduates are getting a fantastic return on their educational investment.

Cladded metals are increasingly being used across a wide range of industries, including oil and gas production, power generation plants, chemical, and even marine ship manufacturing. Cladded metals are mainly used to increase the cost-effectiveness of metal structures while preserving or increasing safety and durability.

Cladded metals

Two or more metals can be used in layers, and they usually complement each other. For example, one layer of metal might provide corrosion resistance, while the other maintains the required structural strength. This type of cladded metal combination is common in the offshore oil industry. Here, thin layers of Inconel® or super duplex alloy can be used in conjunction with carbon steel or stainless steel alloys. In other cases, the use of stainless steel layers on carbon steel structures is a compromise between increasing corrosion resistance and keeping cost at reasonable levels.

"The oil and gas industry operates according to stringent standards that primarily strive to keep equipment running efficiently while maintaining workplace safety. Conforming to such standards is challenging because oil and gas operations involve drilling (both on land and offshore), reservoir engineering, well servicing, production services, refining and transportation of petroleum products, and many other operations. Not only is it challenging to conform to industry standards, but it is expensive to maintain a safe workplace and to protect workers from harm. It is necessary to equip workers with protective apparel; to continually train them on practicing safety procedures; and to keep them up to date on practicing improved equipment inspection techniques.

What is NDT?

Many NDT (Non Destructive Testing) methods are utilized in the oil and gas industry. The best NDT methods address issues regarding safety, equipment reliability, and environmental protection and government regulations."

"One of the oldest methods of modern transportation, the history of rail dates back nearly 500 years. With an expansive and aging infrastructure, railroads require constant support to maintain their integrity and operate safely.

Many types of nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques have been used to help ensure the quality of both the rail and the many components that make up a rail car. These methods range from the so-called “car knocker,” which uses acoustic resonance to detect cracked wheels, to the “oil and whiting” test used for fatigue crack detection in steam locomotive pins and axles. Currently, ultrasonic testing (UT) is the preferred method of NDT in the railroad industry.

Ultrasonic testing uses high frequency, directional sound waves to measure material thickness, find hidden flaws, or analyze material properties. UT requires the use of a transducer that transmits and/or receives the ultrasound signals being passed into the metal and a flaw detector to process the results. While UT is used in a range of applications, it is especially important for rail testing."

If you are interested in exploring a career in Nondestructive Testing, talk to an NDT Instructor today 855-313-0325!

Our current enrollment is starting for our UT Shearwave Weld Examination courses this year. Earn your certification and earn more opportunities for lucrative employment in the future! AINDT is offering this 5-day, intensive, hands-on course at our Baxter, Minnesota location on the following dates in 2017:

March 27th - March 31st

May 22nd - May 26th

July 31st - Aug. 4th

Oct. 2nd - Oct. 6th

If these dates don’t work out for you, we are offering custom dates to groups of four or more from your company. Contact us for details or to arrange your custom dates: (855) 313-0325. We look forward to speaking with you!

The Coloradoan reports on the announcement of Vestas Wind Systems regarding the 800 jobs they plan to add by the end of 2014. What industry are these jobs in? The answer - wind energy. An increase in wind energy demand has left Vestas needing hundreds more workers in all of its Colorado factories.

"Overall, we [Vestas] think these are great jobs and an opportunity for people to join an industry that's got legs and be a part of it for the long term."

"These are new blue-collar jobs. They're manufacturing jobs in a long tradition of blue-collar manufacturing, but they're also high-tech," he said. "We're not building your granddad's windmill. These are modern power plants."

The jobs will help the company meet global demand for wind turbines in 2015 and 2016. Since 1979, Vestas has supplied more than 51,000 wind turbines to 73 countries — 52 percent more than its closest competitor, the release said.

Interested in exploring a high-tech career in nondestructive testing (NDT)? Contact The American Institute of Nondestructive Testing (Baxter, MN) for information on careers in NDT. Call 855-313-0325 today to talk to an AINDT Instructor.

The American Institute of NonDestructive Testing has added the GE USM GO to it's training facility. USM Go is setting new standards in flaw detection instrumentation. The new ultrasonic Go platform from GE's Inspection Technologies business combines a thickness gauge and a flaw detector in one single lightweight instrument.

The American Institute of Non-Destructive Testing offers experience you can trust with over 40 years in the Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection Industry. With a combination of online and classroom training - in only 16 weeks you can be on your way to a high demand career!

High Earning Potential - Starting pay in the Non-Destructive Testing industry ranges from $40 – 50,000 per year. Most graduates can look forward to earning $100,000 or more within a few years!

Low Cost - We have created the most affordable NDT and inspection training packages available. Our packages include all the necessary on-line training modules, study material, books, hands-on lab work, and housing costs.

No Guess Work –AINDT understands the industry demands. Our focus is to consistently deliver the most well-equipped, responsible, and knowledgeable professionals to the Non-Destructive Testing needs of civic-minded organizations and communities.